Black and white photo of a woman holding a canoe paddle.
Ascott in 1952.

Shirley Ascott (10 December 1930 – 29 December 1995) was a British canoe sprinter who competed in the early 1950s. She competed in the K-1 500 m event at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, but was eliminated in the heats.

Biography

Ascott was from Hounslow, Middlesex. During the Second World War, she was evacuated, and studied at Fleetwood Grammar School.[1] She worked in an aircraft factory, and started canoeing in 1950.[1] In 1952, Ascott was one of two British women who attempted to qualify for the 1952 Summer Olympics;[2] after winning the trial event, she was selected for the Games.[1] At the Games, she was eliminated in the heats.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Women Canoeists". The Guardian. 23 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 27 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "She hopes to paddle for Britain". Evening Standard. London. 12 April 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 27 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Shirley Ascott Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.


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